So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT
Should you need encouragement to persist in the face of trials and tribulation, God invites you to dig in to your relationship with Him.
Digging in can mean a couple of things. It can mean to set up defensive positions as in trench warfare. Yes, the Lord is our defender and faith is our shield. Put on the full armor of God and don’t take it off.
Digging in can also be the act of eating heartily the meal placed before you. How many times have you found yourself staring hungrily at a steaming plate of food, waiting for everyone to be ready and then like sprinters out of the starting blocks at a race, you devour the deliciousness at the word dig in?
God is giving us the green light to dig in. Be found in Him. Be rooted and established in Him to weather every storm that is coming. But continue to voraciously devour the Word. It is the spiritual food that helps us grow strong in the grace of God.
I have a saying lately that brings me comfort. I like to say, “It’s no big deal.”
Try it. Whatever concern is weighing on your mind, think of it and say, “It’s no big deal.”
Why do I say it’s no big deal? Because there’s really only one big deal and that’s knowing Jesus. If you know Jesus, the answer to every mystery is only a prayer away. If you don’t know Jesus, then life is a confusing mess of slavery to sin, bondage to the world and imprisonment to the deceptive lies of the enemy.
Jesus breaks us free of all that. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Free from the power of and the punishment for sin. Free to walk in the Spirit of God, full of grace and truth.
We have to remember what’s important, which is our salvation in Christ Jesus by faith alone. It’s a free gift that can’t be earned. If we lose sight of that, if we forget, we will quickly stray from the path of holiness and find ourselves far from the abundant life of God.
It’s all about salvation. Sure, healing the sick, casting out demons, making disciples and sharing the Gospel with the lost make life interesting and fun, but if we lose sight of why we do that, it can turn into a religion of works. Why did Jesus do what He did? Compassion.
Compassion is the fuel for all Spirit led ministry. Love is what identifies us as disciples. They will know us by our love. If you love Me, you will obey My commandments. If you love Me, obeying my commandments won’t be difficult. If you love Me, obeying my commandments will be an expression of your love for God and people and it will bring joy to your heart. If you truly love Me, you will be like Me, you will be ambassadors of My love in this world.
So dig in. Refuse to be conformed to the pattern of this world. Develop a healthy appetite for true spiritual milk. Read the Word of God. Discover who He created you to be. Get to know your Father in Heaven. Become the person He designed you to be, a Christian.
May God’s will and God’s best be revealed to you and manifested in your life today. May the God who created Heaven and Earth speak to your heart the truth you need to hear to be healed of all wounds. And may God protect you, perfect you and use you for His glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Igniter Ministries 
Straight fire!!
Love this Dennis! Good word.